THE ADOPTION OF ENGLISH LANGUAGE AS A COMMON LINGUA FRANCA (A

BLESSING) by JATTO KOSEYEM JUDITH

The importance of English language has continued to increase in stature over time. Today, the
language is spoken by almost 2 billion people across the world, compared to five million some
five hundred years ago. As we use the language, English, more often in today’s world.

English as our lingua franca is the language of communication used between people,
whose main languages are different and it is currently the most important means of
communication in the international sphere. The existence of English Language as our lingua
franca is both a blessing and a curse to the people. The blessing associated with English
Language is more than the curses. Therefore, the adoption of English Language as our lingua
franca is a force of blessing to the world.

English most have the potentiality of promoting international cooperation or else it would
not be called a lingua franca without this characteristic. Everyone grabs the opportunity ti learn
as a second as a second language because it serves as a vehicular language and it is beneficial to
both the native and the non-native speakers. In addition, English language is important in
promoting international integration through the provision of a single means of communication.
We have about 6,500 language in the world but the most of these languages was adopted as our
lingua franca because it is understandable to many.

It is a fact that English Language brings blessings to the world and we cannot deny such.
One of these blessings is unity in diversity. English serves as a bond that brings countries
together in the aspect of communication. Had it been English, the lingua franca was not existing,
communication might have been so hard among countries and I do not know how there will be
how to communicate with each other. Just imagine the scenario, India has many materials (note
this is just a false scenario). And Nigeria has raw materials but they lack materialistic things like
jewelries, they would not be able to transact business or exchange their goods if English was not
be very hard. Indeed English language I s a blessing to the world because I do not think we will
live a good life without it.

The proliferation of the English language is largerly enhanced through the concept of
globalization. According to Oxford dictionary, globalization is the fact that different cultures and
economic systems around d the world are becoming connected and similar to each other because
of the improved communication.

Today, the world is a global village is characterized by unlimited floe of capital, goods
and technology. The increased cooperation between different countries of the world has
contributed to the establishment of English language as the world’s lingua franca.

Further, international organizations such as World Health Organizations in almost all

countries require the use of a single language foe official communication. These developments
have all contributed to the increased use of English Language in international politics.

English Language has a huge potential in the field of academia and research as a lingua
franca.

In fact, research and academia as a field is a leading area of knowledge of English as a lingua
franca with applications in many countries. One of the reasons for this area of knowledge is
highly dependent on international cooperation and the sharing of skills in research.

There is no denying that the English language as our lingua franca is a blessing because
without English language this world would have been very boring because everyone will only
want to talk to people who understand their language and it will result to bad communications
amongst people of different nationalities.

Eventually, the use of English language in different aspects at the international arena
makes it an effective world lingua franca.